Latch-closer for knitting-machines.



No. 825,679. PATENTBD JULY 10, 1906. H. PULSTER. LATCH CLOSER FORKNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.6.1905.

Witt mow: I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LATCH-CLOSER FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Application filed October 6, 1905. Serial No. 281,606.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, HENRY PULs'rER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Latch-Closer for Knitting-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

lWIyinvention relates to knitting-machines; and it consists of a novelconstruction of a needle-cylinder by means of which large loose coursesand slack work are produced in a reliable and accurate manner and theimperfect work due to the dropping of stitches entirely prevented.

In machines for knitting hosiery, underwear, or any fabric having aloose course, especially when working with lisle, worsted, or cottonthread, the large loops formed when the cam draws the needles down tomake the loose course or slack fabric have a tendency to fall off theneedles as the latter are raised by the cam, thus causing drop-stitches.My invention presents, broadly, positive means for preventing thisstitch-dropping.

My invention further consists of a novel construction of aneedle-cylinder having a preferably external guard-band for engagementwith the latches to close them and keep them closed. This band is heldupon the cylinder by any suitable means, as by a groove or projection.

It further consists of novel features of construction, all as will behereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a deviceembodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view on line as m,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of a portion of theneedle-cylinder. Fig. 4 represents aperspective view of the spring indetached position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-- responding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 desi nates the needle-cylinder, which isprovide with grooves or slots 2, forming guides in which the needles 3are carried. I have deemed it unnecessary to show or describe the cammechanism for actuating the needles, since the same is old in the artand forms no part of my present invention, it being apparent that anysuitable or conventional type of cam mechanism may be employed. Theneedles 3 are of the usual construction and are provided with a latch 4and a hook 5.

Outside of the needles or in such other relation thereto as to makecontact with the latches of the needles when these are moved inoperation I provide means for positively engaging the latches to holdthem in position. In the particular means which I have illustrated Ihave preferred to supply common means for this purpose for all of theneedles, although this is evidently not necessary, and I have made thismeans resilient, because I have preferred to make it separable from thecylinder, although these also are evidently both unnecessary to theinvention.- In my illustration therefor 6 designates an annular grooveor space formed by projections, resulting in a support at the upper endof the cylinder in which a sprin or spring-band 7 is closed. The latchis maintained in closed position as the needle is moved upwardly by thecam mechanism until the needle has been raised a sufficient height abovethe band for the latch to open. This revents the large loop which isformed by t ping off the hook during the operation. T

loop slipping from the hook as the needle is being raised is the causeof drop-stitches and, hence imperfect work. It will be readily ape hookfrom slilpparent that there is a great advantage in reventing thestitches dropping from the liook and also in the making of a loosecourse, as the operator can work with much greater rapidity in knittingthe tops and also in knitting the feet of hosiery.

This device when a slack fabric is being made would be in constant use;but in tight webbing it is only used when the loose course is beingmade, and the device does not interfere in any way with the making ofthe tight webbing.

It will be apparent that machines now in use may be readily equippedwith my novel device, since it is only necessary to attach a band,resilient or non-resilient, in any of the ways described, as by millingan annular groove at a suitable point near the u per end of theneedle-cylinder and placin t erein a spiral spring-band or a non-resiient band with which the latches of the needles come in contact and bymeans of which said latches are kept closed after the loop is formed andthe needles are being raised by the cams.

It will be evident that various changes may be made by those skilled inthe art which may come within the scope of my invention, and I do not,therefore, desire to belimited in every instance to the exactconstruction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what i needle-cylinder havingexternal longitudinal grooves therein, needles located in said groovesand an annular band external of said needles in proximity thereto andadapted to engage the latches of the needle.

3. In a device of the character described, a needlecylinder, a needlecarried thereby and having a latch at the upper end of said needle andpositive means for closing said latchf normally located below the sameand fixed with relation to the cylinder.

4. In a device of the character described, a needle-cylinder, guidestherein, needles lying in said guides and provided with latches andpositive means connected with said cylinder for engaging the latcheswhen the needles are moved.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination aneedle-cylinder provided with an annular groove near its upper end,needles carried by said cylinder, and means engaging said groove,adapted to close the latches on the downward movement of said needlesand maintain said latches in closed position during a portion of theupward -movement of said needles.

6. In a device of the character described, a needle-cylinder providedwith an annular groove near its upper end, havinglongitudinally-disposed slots therein, needles adapted to travel in saidslots, and a resilient band in said groove to keep the latches of theneedles closed after the loops are made.

7. In a device of the character described, a needle-cylinder, a needlecarried thereby and having a latch thereon and positive means formaintaining the latch in closed position while the needle is in motion.

8. In a device of the character described, a needle-cylinder, a needlecarried thereby and having a latch thereon, a support on the cylinderand means carried by the support for closing said latch and maintainingit in a closed position.

9. In a device of the character described, a needle cylinder havingexternal needleguides, longitudinal thereof, needles lying in saidguides and provided with latches and an annular spring embracing thecylinder and making contact with said latches.

10. In a device of the character described, a needle-cylinder, a needlecarried thereby having a latch at the upper end thereof, an annularsupport upon the cylinder and a spring retained in said support makingengagement with said latch upon movement of the needle.

11. In a device of the character described,

